Improvement in apparatus for attaching clasps to hooped skirts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS B. DE FOREST, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHELTON SU'OSBORN SKIRT COMPANY AND L. 85C. H. DE FOREST, OF

SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING CLASPS TO HOOPED SKlRTS..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,877, dated November 4, 1862.

to the accompanying drawings, making part.

of this application.

My invention relates to an improved machine for performing the operation of claspl ing hoop-skirts7-that is, putting on the small metallic clasps, which are employed on certain kinds of hoop-skirts for retaining the hoop laterally in the pockets of the tapes.

Machines have been invented and used prevlous to my invention for automatically performing this operation, but they are all sub- ]ect to practical objections and possess imperfections which it is the object of my invention to remove.

My invention consists, first, in feeding the clasps from the `hopper or shaking table on their backs under a guide-plate, by which they are guided to a suitable conductor, through which they pass to the punching or clasping mechanism.

My invention consists, secondly, in the peculiar construction of guide-plate, as hereinafter fully described.

My invention consists, thirdly, in conducting the clasps down to the clasping or punch-- ing mechanism through a slit or slot, in coinbination with suitable guides, whereby the position of the clasp is reversed during its passage through said conductor, as hereinafter more fully explained.

My invention consists, fourthly, in feeding the clasps under a movable punch and onto a holder or sustaining-bar, as hereinafter described, so that one clasp at a time will be received and held between the punch and holding-finger, as hereinafter set forth.

My invention consists, fthly, in the mode of operation of the devices for inserting and securing the clasp through the tape, substantially as hereinafter more fully described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to del scribe the same as I have successfully practiced it, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application,

and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embracing my several improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the hopper or shaking table and guide-plate detached. Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section at the line :v w, Fig. l.

In theseveral gures the same letter of reference indicates the same part of the apparatus.

A is the bed-plate or base of the machine, from which extends upward the frame B. This frame, it will be seen from Fig. 2, is formed with three arms or extended portions, C C C2, in the lower one of which is set a die, a. In the other two are formed suitable boxes or bearings -for the reciprocating punch or punching-bar D, and from the upper arm, C2, extends a bracket or small stand, E., for the accommodation of a set-screw, b, which constitutes an adjustable stop to the reciprocating bar D. This bar is operated by a lever, F, hung on a pivot at c, and having its rear end (in a working-machine) connected to any suitable treadle mechanism.

G is an arm secured to the frame B and extending out in about a horizontal position, and is for the support of the hopper or feeding-table I-I and the conductor or feeder I, both of which are secured to said arm or bracket G, as clearly seen in Fig. l. y

d is a sustaining finger or holder to retain the clasp during a part of the descent of the bar D, in a manner and for a purpose to be presently described. This finger is locked in the proper position to receive the clasps e by means of a latch, f, on bar g, and is turned on its pivot in one direction by the spring t', and in the other direction by a bent finger, as pawl It, which is secured at its upper end to the arm C', and the lower extremity of which operates on a cam-faced projection, o, on back side of holder d.

Between the upper end of the sliding bar g and bottom sideof the lever` F is arranged a spring, j, which operates to keep the sliding bar g constantly pressed downward, and in top of said bar is a stop-screw, k, for regulating the downward throw of the said bar, for purposes which will be explained.

The feed table or hopper H is divided into compartments by the partitions Z m a. In the partition Zis a slide, t, or gate for varying the capacity of the passage between the portions l and 2. (See Fig. 3.)

p q are guiding-ribs on the surface of the table H to guide the clasps tothe plate K, which is supported by a cross-piece, l, and which has cut in its lower edge an opening or square notch, s.

` The operation of myimproved machinewill be understood from the following explanations: The compartment I of the hopper or table H is supplied with clasps, which by the shaking or jarring of the machine are kept flowing down through the passage-way into the compartment 2, (the flow being regulated by the gate t,) from whence they pass down between vthe guiding flanges or ribs p q,as illustrated in Fig. 3, to the guide-plate K. This guide-plate is so constructed and arranged that it will not receive any clasp that does not approach it in the right position to pass into the feeder l.' The clasps will naturally tumble onto their backs and ride down the shaking table H on theirbacks. All those which come down on their backs with their points or legs in the position to straddle theV plate K will pass under said plate to the con- 'ductor I,- but those which ride down on their backs with their legs in the wrong position will shake off to one side of plateK and pass out of thelower end of hopper Hand fall down into any suitable receptacle, or into a tube or conveyer to carry them back to t-he compartment l.

It often happens that a clasp will not ride down on its back, but will come down onto the end of plate K in the position shown in red lines in Fig. 3. Now, if the plate K were solid the clasp on its end in this position would be apt to stay there (unless the table were very severely' shaken) and stop the supply to the feeder I; but by having a hole or opening, s,

l cut in said plate K, as shown, this difficulty is effectually avoided, for either one leg or the other of the clasp will shake through the opening s, and the center of gravity of the clasp then being on one side of plate the plates of the feeder I, as illustrated. The

plates of feeder I have their adjacent edges set apart a distance about equal to the thickness of the back or body of the clasps, and the said feeder-plates are bent in a helical curve,

so that as the clasps pass through or between them from one end. to the other they have their position reversed, as shown, so that although the clasps enter the feeder I with their `legs sticking up they are delivered to the clasping mechanismwith their points or legs pointing downward. The feeder I is inclined at a proper angle to insure the passage of the clasps through it by their own gravity. It will be understood that the supply is such as to generally insure the feeder I full from one end to the other of clasps. The clasps pass onto the finger cl, when the punch or bar D is elevated, one at a time. f Vhen .the said bar descends, it cuts offthe clasp (which is on finger d) from the column of clasps in the feeder I, and carries it down to the work, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The clasp is carried down between the bottom of punch D and the finger d until the points` of the clasp are entered into the work. When the points of the clasp have entered the tape and passed down either side of the hoop, as shown in Fig. 4, the back of the clasp comes hard up against the bottom of the punch D. The nger (l is then quickly withdrawn, and the punch D, continuing to descend, forces the clasp on downward, and the points of the latter, coming in contact with lthe concave surface of the die a, are turned and clinched into the usual shape. Before the bar D 1inishes its return (upward) movement the nger d resumes its first-described position, ready to receive and then clasp, which slides on as soon as the punch D nishes its upward stroke.

rIhe just described operation of the holdingfinger d is effected in the following manner, viz: The finger cl is held in position against the pressure of the spring c' by the catch j' of bar g. As the bar D descends the bar gis forced to descend with it by the pressure of the spring j, (the latch f meantime holding the finger d,) until the stop-screw 7c comes in contact with the arm c', when said bar g is checked, and the bar D and finger d continu-V ing to descend, the latter is released fro'mthe hold of latch f, and is by the forcecf the spring z' thrown around on its pivot and from under the clasp. One end of spring fl is fastened to bar D, the other end to finger d, as shown in Fig. l. As the bar D ascends,.the inclined or cam face o on back sideof finger cl comes in contact with the lower end of stationary pawl h, and the finger d isturned (against the pressure of spring fl) into its proper position for the reception of a clasp, and as bar D continues its ascent said finger d is again locked by latch f.

One of the greatest advantages consequent to the construction of my improved machine is that the operator or operative, having a less number of motions to go through with, can more readily attain and retain a perfect adjustment of the work to be clasped on the lower or holding die. It will be understood that since the work has only to be properly placed and held on the stationary die a, and the clasp is brought to and inserted in the work by a holding device, the whole operation is` rendered positive and at the same time simple.

It will be obseerved that the clasp is received from the conductor or feeder betweenthe botf tom of the set 7 or punch D and the top surface of finger d, and is there retained until the v points of thepclasp have been forced-fairly into the motion of bar gat the proper time, and by setting the screw k at different points.th.e finger d may be unlatohed and-thrown. outfrom the clasp at different times, according to the lzind of work being clasped. V v

- One machine may be madeto work with different-size clasps by detaching the finger-bar l and substituting a ditferentonewhcn the Vsize of the clasp is materiallyhanged.

Having described the construction ofxmy machine and its mode of operation, what l: claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The employment of a hopper or shakingtable, in combination with a guide-plate, K, or its equivalent, for guidingv the clasps on their backs 'to the feeder or conductor, sub stautially as hereinbefore described.

2. The employment of a feeder, l, or conductor so constructed aste receive the clasps on their backs and reverse their position as Vthey pass down or through it, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- 3. The moving punch-Dincombination with the finger d, or its equivalent, and the feeder, the whole so arranged that the punch cuts-ofi' one clasp at a time and forms a stop' to the feed, substantially 4as hereinbefore explained.

' 4. The combination of the moving punch or set D and its clasp-retaining device d with the Work-supporting die a,'substantiallyas described, whereby the clamps are carried to the work and inserted and secured therein, as

hereinbefoe set forth.

In testimony whereof I have 4hereunto set my hand this 27th day of August, 1862.

THOMAS B. DE FOREST.`

ln presen-ce ofe- Y J. N, MOINTIRE, j IL. DE FOREST. l 

